Than Dalila thy Wife.

SAMSON.

724

My Wife, my Traitress, let her not come near me.

CHORUS.

Yet on she moves, now stands and eyes thee fix'd, About t' have spoke, but now with head declin'd Like a fair flow'r furcharg'd with dew, fhe weeps, And words addreffed feem into tears diffolv'd, Wetting the borders of her filken veil :

But now again she makes address to speak.

DALILA.

With doubtful feet and wavering refolution
I came, ftill dreading thy displeasure, Samfon,
Which to have merited, without excufe,
I cannot but acknowledge; yet if tears

726. Yet on fhe moves, &c] Like Ifmene in the Antigone of Sophocles ver. 532.

Και μην προ πυλων ἡδ' Ισμηνη
Φιλαδελφα κατω δακρυ ειβομονη
Νηφελη δ' οφρύων υπερ, αίματον
Ρεθα αισχυνεις
Τείγεσ' ενωπα παρειαν.

Mr. Jortin and Mr. Thyer both
concurr'd in the fame observation,
and therefore it is more likely to
be true.

730

735 May

May expiate (though the fact more evil drew

In the perverse event than I forefaw)

My penance hath not flacken'd, though my pardon
No way affur'd. But conjugal affection

Prevailing over fear, and timorous doubt,
Hath led me on defirous to behold

Once more thy face, and know of thy estate,
If ought in my ability may ferve

740

To lighten what thou fuffer'ft, and appease
Thy mind with what amends is in my power, 745
Though late, yet in fome part to recompenfe
My rash but more unfortunate misdeed.

SAMSON.

Out, out Hyæna; thefe are thy wonted arts, And arts of every woman false like thee,

To break all faith, all vows, deceive, betray, 750
Then as repentant to fubmit, befeech,

And reconcilement move with feign'd remorse,
Confefs, and promise wonders in her change,
Not truly penitent, but chief to try

Her husband, how far urg'd his patience bears, 755
His virtue or weakness which way to affail :
Then with more cautious and inftructed skill
Again tranfgreffes, and again fubmits;

That wifeft and beft men full oft beguil'd
With goodness principled not to reject

The penitent, but ever to forgive,

Are drawn to wear out miserable days,

7760

Intangled with a pois'nous bosom snakę,

If not by quick deftruction foon cut off
As I by thee, to ages an example.

765

DALILA.

Yet hear me, Samfon; not that I endevor

To leffen or extenuate my offenfe,

But that on th' other fide if it be weigh'd

1

By' itself, with aggravations not surcharg'd,
Or else with just allowance counterpois'd,
I may, if poffible, thy pardon find

The easier towards me, or thy hatred less.
First granting, as I do, it was a weakness
In me, but incident to all our sex,
Curiofity, inquifitive, importune

Of fecrets, then with like infirmity

To publish them, both common female faults:
Was it not weakness also to make known

For importunity, that is for nought,

770

775

Wherein confifted all thy ftrength and safety? 780
To what I did thou fhowd'ft me first the way.
But I to enemies reveal'd, and should not:

Nor should'st thou have trufted that to woman's frailty:
Ere I to thee, thou to thyself waft cruel.

Let weakness then with weakness come to parle 785 So near related, or the fame of kind,

Thine forgive mine; that men may cenfure thine The gentler, if feverely thou exact not

More

Your fex are fo, fuch falfe dif- Otway to the men; which with

femblers all, &c.,

Milton applies it to a woman, but

the greater juftice, let the critics and the ladies determin.

S4

840. Knowing,

More ftrength from me, than in thyfelf was found.
And what if love, which thou interpret'ft hate, 790
The jealoufy of love, pow'rful of fway

In human hearts, nor less in mind tow'rds thee,
Caus'd what I did? I faw thee mutable

Of fancy, fear'd left one day thou would'st leave me
As her at Timna, fought by all means therefore 795
How to indear, and hold thee to me firmest;
No better way I faw than by impórtuning
To learn thy fecrets, get into my power
The key of ftrength and safety: thou wilt say,

Why then reveal'd? I was affur'd by those

800

Who tempted me, that nothing was defign'd

Against thee but safe custody, and hold;

That made for me; I knew that liberty
Would draw thee forth to perilous enterprises,

805

While I at home fat full of cares and fears,
Wailing thy abfence in my widow'd bed;
Here I should still enjoy thee day and night'
Mine and love's prifoner, not the Philiftines,
Whole to myself, unhazarded abroad,

Fearless at home of

partners in my love. These reasons in love's law have past for good,

819

Though